don't forget the obama administration and congress have the debt ceiling hanging over them. the u.s. set to hit the borrowing limit of over $16 trillion by the end of the year. there's a lot going on at 2012 winds down. in congress, the senate is in session, the house is not. it's the first time either chamber has been in session for business between christmas and new year's since 1970. >> trace: so they're coming back to work. the president probably wished he stayed in hawaii because not much has changed. >> both sides are waiting for the other to make the first move. senate republicans are ready to look over a plan the democrats put forth but they say there's no plan. this morning the top senate democrat, harry reid, chided the top house republican, john boehner, nor not calling the house legislators back into zes speaker boehner should call them back today. he shouldn't have let them go in fact. they're not here. they are not here. john boehner seems to care more about keeping his speakership than keeping the nation on firm financial footing. >> in response, a spokesman f